Pat Massart inducted into NAA Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame inductee valued education, but friends and family most of all

Overland Park, Kan., Aug. 22, 2012 – Friends and family say her willingness to volunteer perfectly captures Pat Massart’s dedication to the Certified Auctioneers Institute and the auction industry. In honor of her unwavering commitment, Massart, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2008, was recently inducted into the National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame.

Pat Massart graduated from the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa, and she joined her husband in the auction business. In 1974, Pat and Bob founded Massart Auctioneers Inc., converting an old dairy building into an auction house, where weekly Thursday auctions continue today.

In 1988, Massart earned her CAI designation and began devoting countless hours to education efforts, serving two consecutive three-year terms on the Auction Marketing Institute Board of Governors. During her tenure, she read and evaluated thousands of pages of auction summary reports. The CAI later honored Massart by starting an award in her name, the Pat Massart Award, which is given each year to the CAI II student with the best auction proposal.

In February 2007, Massart received a diagnosis of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. When the family discovered their insurance did not cover chemotherapy, Auctioneers around the country rallied around the family, helping to organize a benefit in May 2007 that raised nearly $100,000.

Even after her diagnosis, Massart continued to attend CAI and raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. At the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Massart’s son, Damien Massart, CAI, BAS, GPPA, sold a baseball autographed by his mother for $4,200, which is being donated to St. Jude. Since 1997, the Massart family has helped raise nearly $100,000 for the children’s hospital.

Steve Schofield, CAI, BAS, recalled Pat Massart, a well-known lover of ice cream, addressing the crowd of 1,200 that gathered at her May 2007 benefit. “When eating ice cream, savor the flavor,” Massart told friends and family, “but savor and remember those you are sharing the ice cream with even more.”

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About the National Auctioneers Association

The National Auctioneers Association represents thousands of Auctioneers from the U.S. and across the world. The mission of the NAA is to promote the auction method of marketing and enhance the professionalism of its members through education and technology. Its headquarters are in Overland Park, Kan., and it was founded in 1949. To learn more about auctions or to find an auction or Auctioneer, please visit www.naaauction.com